Toronto primed and ready for G-20 Summit on June 26-27; protests expected

Toronto, Canada – In five days, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be host to the 2010 G-20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy - for two days – June 26 and 27, 2010.

Overview – What to Expect

This Summit  is the fourth G-20 Conference.  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is the host of the event. The theme of the Toronto summit is “Recovery and New Beginnings,” referring to an economic stimulus from the impact of the ongoing world recession. The stated goals of the Toronto Summit are: 1) to work on the ideas brought up during the earlier Washington, London, and Pittsburgh summits, 2) to improve the international financial sector, and 3) to keep open markets.

On May 8, 2010. Stephen Harper extended guest invitations to the leaders of Ethiopia, Malawi, Netherlands, Spain, and Vietnam.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Labour Organization, as well as Ethiopia, Malawi, and Vietnam will make their first G-20 summit attendances in Toronto. British Prime Minister David Cameron will attend his first international diplomatic conference after being elected. (See list of representatives below.)

Virtual media blackout of protests at last G-20 Summit held in Pittsburgh, PA

On September 24-25, 2009, at the last G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Pa, there was a virtual major media blackout of the citizens there, protesting the economic bailouts that were happening at the time. Primarily, only independent news sources – like The Examiner – showed the disturbing pictures and videos of police and military tanks controlling the crowds. The Pittsburgh G-20 site was actually bordered off – with the citizens having to remain outside the perimeter.

Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters, armored Humvees and crews of U.S. Army soldiers, as well as ten 25-foot boats with M240 machine guns from the Coast Guard, were on hand in Pittsburgh in the event of large-scale violent protests or a terrorist attack.

On September 24, 2009, a crowd gathered in Schenley Plaza, as world leaders met that evening at the Phipps Conservatory nearby for a working dinner. An initially quiet gathering quickly escalated and turned violent after 9:00 PM EDT.

Hundreds of police encircled the crowd, which spilled over onto Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard near the Cathedral of Learning. An estimated 300 riot police lined the sidewalk behind the William Pitt Union, with 200 more officers blocking Forbes Avenue nearby to contain the protesters. However, the crowd quickly grew to about 500 as nearby University of Pittsburgh students – evident by shouts of “Let’s Go Pitt!” heard – curious about the sirens and police presence, joined the crowd. Police shot several rounds of pepper spray into the crowd

By the end of day on September 25, 2009, police estimated that about 4,500 people participated in protests throughout the city, with 190 arrests being made. Dozens of University of Pittsburgh students – who say they were wrongfully arrested and subjected to heavy-handed police tactics during the G-20 meeting – called for an investigation into the police actions.

Twitter enters the picture as activist tool

New York City activist Elliot Madison used Twitter to report an order to disperse message from the Pittsburgh police during the protests. Police raided Madison’s hotel room, and one week later Madison’s New York home was raided by FBI agents. Police claim Madison and a co-defendant used computers and a radio scanner to track police movements and then passed on that information to protesters using cell phones and the social networking site Twitter. Madison is being charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, criminal use of a communication facility, and possession of instruments of crime.

Security of concern in Toronto; many measures have been put into place

Security measured are likely to be much the same at the 2010 Summit. Economic conditions across the globe have continued to deteriorate. Since the Pittsburgh Summit on September 24-25, 2009,  the world has witnessed the bailout of Greece, for example.

For at least two months, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), together forming an “Integrated Security Unit,”  have been working on security in the Toronto region, especially in the Downtown core, where the Summit will take place.

Police officials have already chosen locations to detain protestors and plan traffic detours which will be in place during the two-day Summit. Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in Mississauga will handle the arrivals of the world leaders. Nav Canada has announced that it will place restrictions on the airspace in Toronto. According to the Globe and Mail, 10,000 uniformed police officers, 1,000 security guards, and several Canadian military forces will be deployed during the Summit.

The surrounding areas of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, specifically bordered by Queen Street West (north), Queen’s Quay (south), Yonge Street (east), and Spadina Avenue (west), have been divided into zones where different levels of security will be in place.

Site of 2010 G-20 Summit “off limits” to civilians and protestors

The Convention Centre, itself, will be fenced and off-limits to civilians and protestors. Toronto Police have put up several temporary CCTV security cameras in the area, in addition to the permanent ones already in use.

Toronto Police originally announced that Trinity Bellwoods Park would be the site for protesters, but following major opposition from local communities, police have relocated the “protesting site” to north of Queen’s Park. And, in fact, on May 6-7, 2010 across the Greater Toronto Area, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducted an Amalgam Virgo preparation exercise  – using CF-18 Hornet jets, CH-124 Sea Kings and CH-146 Griffon helicopters at low altitudes.

Many businesses and traffic routes will be affected

Major banks headquartered in Downtown Toronto, which happen to be the largest banks in Canada’s banking industry, have made plans to have employees work outside of their downtown headquarters and work in alternative working places, such as at home or in other branches. In addition, the Director of Communications of Canada Post, Deborah Harron-Thompson, announced that post boxes along the streets in the vicinity of the summit location will be removed for security concerns.

The Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard are expected to be closed during the summit dates. The city is strongly recommending the use of public transportation in the Downtown area.  The Yonge-University-Spadina subway line and its stations close to the Convention Centre will remain operational.

Commuter rail service at Union Station will also remain operational.  The CN Tower, classes at the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, and the PATH, Toronto’s underground city, will be closed down during the Summit, June 26 and June 27.

On the sports front

The three-game Major League Baseball (MLB) series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies, which were set to take place from June 25-27 at the Rogers Centre, have been relocated to be held at Philadelphia instead.

A media centre for international media personnel, journalists, and press will be set up at the Direct Energy Centre at the Exhibition Place during the summit.

Who will be at the 2010 G-20  Summit in Toronto?

On May 8, 2010. Stephen Harper extended invitations to the Summit to the leaders of Ethiopia, Malawi, Netherlands, Spain, and Vietnam. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Labour Organization, as well as Ethiopia, Malawi, and Vietnam will make their first G-20 summit attendances in Toronto. British Prime Minister David Cameron will attend his first international diplomatic conference after being elected.

G-20 member representatives include:

* Argentina – represented by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina
* Australia – represented by Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of Australia
* Brazil – represented by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
* Canada – represented by Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada (Host)
* People’s Republic of China – represented by Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China
* France – represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France
* Germany – represented by Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
* India – represented by Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
* Indonesia – represented by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia
* Italy – represented by Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy
* Japan – represented by Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan
* Mexico – represented by Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico
* South Korea – represented by Lee Myung-bak, President of South Korea
* Russia – represented by Dmitry Medvedev, President of Russia
* Saudi Arabia – represented by Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia
* South Africa – represented by Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa
* Turkey – represented by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey
* United Kingdom – represented by David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
* United States – represented by Barack Obama, President of the United States

Guest nations representatives include:

* Ethiopia – represented by Girma Wolde-Giorgis, President of Ethiopia
* Malawi – represented by Bingu wa Mutharika, President of Malawi
* Netherlands – represented by Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (unless changed due to the June election)
* Spain – represented by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain
* Vietnam – represented by Nguy?n Minh Tri?t, President of Vietnam
* European Commission – represented by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
* European Council – represented by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council

International organizations representatives:

* Financial Stability Forum – represented by Mario Draghi, Chairman of the Financial Stability Forum
* International Labour Organization – represented by Juan Somavía, Head of the International Labour Organization
* International Monetary Fund – represented by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
* Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – represented by José Ángel Gurría, Secretariat General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
* United Nations – represented by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
* World Bank Group – represented by Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank
* World Trade Organization-  represented by Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organization

Preparations for demonstrations began many weeks ago. The Ontario Federation of Labour is expected, for example, to lead a rally of 20,000 protesters in front of Queen’s Park.

Obama urging nations to “safeguard and strengthen the recovery”

According to the Politics Daily web site:  (On Friday), in advance of the economic summit in Toronto, President Obama urged America’s economic partners to “safeguard and strengthen” a recovery from recession in the face of continuing challenges, including the European Union debt crisis.

“We must maintain the momentum,” Obama said in a lengthy letter to the Group of 20 industrial nations meeting in Toronto. Obama did not single out any G-20 nation by name, but said “some countries” must deal with “weakness of consumer demand” and an over-reliance on exports.

“Our highest priority in Toronto must be to safeguard the recovery,” he said. “We worked exceptionally hard to restore growth; we cannot falter or lose strength now.” Budget deficits, he said, should be dealt with in the “medium term” – an apparent reference to the importance he places on continued spending to stimulate the economy.’

For more information, see wikipedia.

Tags: 2009 G-20 Summit, 2010 G-20 Summit, Canada, financial markets, independent media, industrial nations, Obama, protestors, protests, security, Stephen Harper, Toronto, Twitter, world economy